Dr. Ibram X. Kendi changed his middle name from Henry to Xolani and his surname from Rogers to Kendi upon his marriage to Dr. Sadiqa Kendi in 2013. Dr. Kendi has said that he made this change after discussions with his wife, and the principal reason for it was to make his name more meaningful. "Xolani" means "peace" in Zulu, while "Kendi" means "the loved one" in the Meru language of Kenya. Kendi, therefore, marked his marriage to the woman he loved by changing his name to a message of peace and love.

The change from Henry Rogers to Xolani Kendi clearly has at least two other meanings which are of particular importance to a writer about antiracist activism who holds intersectional views. First, there is the change from two highly traditional English names, associated with Europe and with whiteness, to two African names. It is notable that, while many older African Americans have European names, those of Kendi's generation are more likely to be named for their African forebears. Aside from this, Kendi has subverted the tradition of the woman changing her name when she marries, taking his wife's name as a gesture of respect for her.